Gary Dicker discusses USA move

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Former player leaves after three years as a coach in the academy.

Charlie Hanson

2024-11-17T06:00+00:00

Gary Dicker returned to Albion in 2021 as a player-coach. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Gary Dicker left the club this week to take up a role in Major League Soccer in the United States with Charlotte FC.

Gary, talk to us about your decision to make this move to America…

"I wasn't in a rush to leave Brighton. I've really enjoyed it here and then without knowing an opportunity came up out of the blue.

"I've thought long and hard about it. It wasn't a quick decision – it took a long time to make it. I know my own pathway is going to have to be different, I'm not going to get a massive job.

Gary Dicker has left the club to take up a coaching role with Charlotte FC in the MLS. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

"You look at Graham [Potter] who was here – he worked in Sweden, he knew his journey was going to be a bit different. I think mine will be the same and sometimes you need to do something different to get to where you want to go. The opportunity to go out to the US, and knowing how much the league's growing, is really interesting.

"It's the best opportunity for me to make the next step in my career."

What are your aspirations?

"I want to manage in the MLS. I want to be a first team manager. And it's a young man's game now. You look at the gaffer here who is a young guy.

"The people I’ve mentioned have also shown it’s about doing the business when you go somewhere. I'm really looking forward to trying to do the same."

Having been here as a player, how do you reflect on your second spell albeit in a different capacity?

"Just as good as the first to be honest with you. I've really enjoyed coming back. I’ve loved seeing so many people that were here during my first spell. There's so many familiar faces from back then, I've had an excellent time. I've met so many new people as well.

Two Albion greats - Inigo Calderon and Gary Dicker. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

"I need to thank the chairman Tony Bloom, the chief executive Paul Barber. [Former academy manager] John Morling, [former technical director] Dan Ashworth played a massive part too.

"Since then I’ve got to work with Ian Buckman, David Weir, Shan [Ruth], Andrew Crofts and the legendary Vic Bragg, as well as a lot of brilliant people in the academy."

What’s your education been like working with these people?

"It’s been a great journey coming back in, learning, meeting new people, working with the different managers.

"I've learned loads. It's the best education I've had as a coach. I'm still looking to expand that. I know there's loads more to learn."

Has it felt like a different club to the one you left first time round?

"It's an absolute privilege to drive through the training ground gates every day.

Gary Dicker has worked with Shannon Ruth for the last two years. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

"I was talking to Paul Barber about it the other day and the comparison from then to now and how much the club has grown – it's only gone one way.

"What they've achieved, I don't think another Premier League club will do it in the next 10=15 years, I can't see it. That's not just on the pitch, I'm talking about everything."

Tony Bloom has obviously been key to that…

"We've got the best chairman in football right now. I don't think there’s any club in the world who wouldn’t have him as chairman. Every fan base wants a Tony Bloom. It's crazy what he has done with this club."

It’s not just you making the move. Your wife and children are heading to the US too…

"My kids are Brighton through and through. They love the club and it's been one of the more difficult parts of it as they love coming to the games.

"My wife's from here, all her family's here. My kids are born and bred here. They've been incredibly supportive and are sacrificing a huge amount.

"Without Brighton, I wouldn't have this life. But it's definitely not a goodbye to be honest. I hope I'll be back one day."